Neighbors near 77th Terrace and Brookside Road said police were responding to a shooting elsewhere in the city at the time of the tire slashing. One resident said the Ring notifications woke him as the attacks unfolded, and another said he observed the suspect approach multiple parked vehicles, including an SUV. Several damaged vehicles required towing, with at least one resident estimating repair costs around $1,000.
Neighbors believe the suspect was released despite prior legal involvement. Kansas City police said the woman they blame has been identified as a suspect in more than 25 property crimes since 2019. Court records referenced in the report indicate prosecutors argued she should remain jailed after she stopped participating in a court-ordered mental health treatment program earlier this year, but a judge released her over the prosecutor’s objection.
Residents say they’re frustrated by what they describe as a failure to prevent repeat property crime and worry the incidents could escalate again. The report also notes the prosecutor has said the woman has a documented history of mental illness. KMBC 9 reports on the neighborhood’s concerns and the legal dispute over the suspect’s release.